[3] > Page [3] of An address, delivered to the Colonization Society of Kentucky, at Frankfort, December 17, 1829 ... at the request of the Board of Managers. Published at the instance of the Society.

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ADDRESS.
GENTLEMEN
OF T H E COLONIZATION SOCIETY OF K E N T U C K Y :
I M O S T s incerely wish that the task of addressing you, on t his o ccasion, had been assigned, by the Board of Managers, to s ome i ndividual m ore competent than l a m to explain and illustrate a nd e nforce t he claims of the Society to the friendly and favorable c onsideration of the public. 1 yield to n one i n a thorough persuasion o f the u tility o f the s cheme o f the Society, in a profound c onviction of its practicability, and in an ardent desire for its complete success. B u t I am sensible that there are many others who c ould more happily than I can, throw around the subject those embellishments which are best c alculated to secure attention, and engage t he cordial and energetic co-operation of the community. W h e n the application was first made to me to deliver this address, I h esitated to comply w ith i t , b ecause I a pprehended that my motives would be misconceived, and my language be misrepresented. S ubsequent reflection determined me to adhere to the m a x i m of m y w hole l ife, to endeavour to render a l l the g ood i n my power, w i t h out being restrained by the misconceptions to which I might expose m yself. In entering upon the duty which has devolved upon m e, I ask only the exercise of ordinary liberality i n judging the i mperfections which w i l l d oubtless mark i t i performance. I n s urveying the United States of North A m e r i c a and their T e r ritories, the beholder perceives, among their inhabitants, three separate and distinct races of men, originally appertaining to three d ifferent continents of the g lobe, e ach race v a r y i n g from the others i n c olor, physical properties, and moral and intellectual endowments. T h e European is the most numerous; and, as well from t hat f act, as from its far greater advance i n civilization and i n the a rts, h as the decided ascendancy over the other two, giving the law to them, controlling their condition, and responsible for their fate to the Great Father of a l l , a nd to the enlightened world. T h e next m ost numerous and most intelligent race, is that which sprung from A f r i c a , the largest portion of which is held i n b ondage b y their b rethren, d escendants of the European. T h e aborigines, or Indian r ace, are the least numerous, and, w ith t he exception of some t ribes, h ave but p artially e merged from the state of barbarism i n which t hey were found on the first discovery of A m e r i c a . Whence, or how t hey c ame h ither, are speculations for the research of the curious, o n which authentic history affords no certain light. T h e i r f uture fortunes or condition, form no part of the subject of t his a ddress. I s hall, I h ope, n evertheless be excused for the d i